Tank Ledger

Mazda 323 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Mazda 323 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 1986 to 1995. Across those years its best rated version returned 28 mpg (1992) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (1988). The EPA record holds 28 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

28best combined mpg (1992)
20worst combined mpg (1988)
28latest year best (1995)
28configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1986327 mpg24 mpg#15 of 48 (70th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1987327 mpg24 mpg#7 of 57 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1988527 mpg20 mpg#6 of 53 (90th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumCompact Cars
1989527 mpg20 mpg#7 of 49 (88th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular, PremiumCompact Cars
1992228 mpg25 mpg#7 of 58 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1993428 mpg25 mpg#5 of 55 (93th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1994428 mpg25 mpg#3 of 53 (96th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars
1995228 mpg25 mpg#7 of 60 (90th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mazda 323 placed highest in 1994 at #3 of 53, and lowest in 1986 at #15 of 48. It spent 8 of its 8 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 28 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19951.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)233025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19951.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularSOHC (FFS)253328410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19941.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2 VALVES (FFS)233025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19941.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular4 VALVES (FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19941.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular4 VALVES (FFS)243227425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19941.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2 VALVES (FFS)253328410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19931.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2VALVE (FFS)233025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19931.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular4VALVE (FFS)222925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19931.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular4VALVE (FFS)243227425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19931.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2VALVE (FFS)253328410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19921.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd RegularB6E2 (FFS)233025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19921.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd RegularB6E2 (FFS)253328410.710.6$2,250317.39285714285717n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192220575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192522522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)232725460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19891.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243027425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192220575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium(FFS,TRBO), turbocharged192522522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)212724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)232725460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19881.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243027425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)232725460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243127425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)222824479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)232725460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)243127425.911.0$2,300329.14814814814815n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1989 → 199227 → 28 mpg+1 mpg411 gal

What 323 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1995 Mazda 323 burns 411 to 460 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,232$1,380$148
$3.50/gal$1,438$1,610$173
$4.00/gal$1,643$1,840$197

EPA’s own estimate for the 1995 model year is $2,250 to $2,500 a year in fuel, or $1,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Compact Cars

Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 28 mpg the Mazda 323 is 2 mpg better the median, which is worth about $111 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Mazda nameplates

Every Mazda model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.